Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2056) earn a median $47,380 a year ($22.78 an hour) in the United States, with 129,140 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What veterinary technologists and technicians do
Veterinary technologists and technicians perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals, working under the direction of a veterinarian. They prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and run tests on blood, urine or feces such as urinalyses and blood counts. They prepare vaccines and serums, and prepare and administer medications, vaccines and treatments prescribed by veterinarians. In surgery they administer anesthesia under a veterinarian's direction and monitor the animal's response so dosages can be adjusted, may assist the veterinarian, and care for animals recovering from surgery. They restrain animals during exams and procedures, give emergency first aid including resuscitation, and clean and sterilize instruments, equipment and materials. They also maintain the controlled drug inventory and its log books. Education is varied: about 41 percent of respondents report a high school diploma, 26 percent an associate degree and 15 percent a postsecondary certificate. Other titles like emergency veterinary technician, animal health technician, and registered, certified and licensed veterinary technician show how the work is titled.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation (41 percent).
Also called: Animal Care Technician (Animal Care Tech), Animal Health Technician (Animal Health Tech), Animal Technician (Animal Tech), Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.17 | $18.71 | $22.78 | $27.72 | $30.38 | $23.61 | 129,140 |
| Annual | $35,710 | $38,910 | $47,380 | $57,650 | $63,180 | $49,120 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where veterinary technologists and technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $24.23 | $24.23 | $29.46 | $38.48 | $39.42 | $31.43 | 120 | 0.17 | 0.21 |
| Annual | $50,390 | $50,390 | $61,270 | $80,030 | $81,990 | $65,370 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $23.19 | $24.79 | $29.15 | $30.82 | $36.47 | $29.52 | 11,310 | 0.62 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $48,240 | $51,570 | $60,630 | $64,100 | $75,860 | $61,400 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $22.30 | $24.38 | $28.72 | $31.00 | $37.16 | $28.82 | 2,290 | 0.65 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $46,390 | $50,700 | $59,740 | $64,480 | $77,300 | $59,940 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.91 | $24.24 | $28.37 | $31.88 | $37.87 | $29.36 | 5,350 | 0.55 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $47,640 | $50,410 | $59,010 | $66,310 | $78,760 | $61,080 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $20.50 | $23.60 | $27.54 | $29.12 | $31.31 | $26.67 | 3,560 | 1.21 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $42,640 | $49,080 | $57,270 | $60,560 | $65,120 | $55,470 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $14.58 | $17.33 | $18.95 | $22.49 | $26.25 | $20.21 | 16,730 | 1.19 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $30,320 | $36,040 | $39,410 | $46,780 | $54,610 | $42,030 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.60 | $18.82 | $22.30 | $23.84 | $27.82 | $22.26 | 11,380 | 1.15 | 1.38 |
| Annual | $36,600 | $39,140 | $46,380 | $49,600 | $57,870 | $46,300 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $23.19 | $24.79 | $29.15 | $30.82 | $36.47 | $29.52 | 11,310 | 0.62 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $48,240 | $51,570 | $60,630 | $64,100 | $75,860 | $61,400 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $17.54 | $18.30 | $22.32 | $24.11 | $28.98 | $22.72 | 6,620 | 1.09 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $36,480 | $38,060 | $46,430 | $50,140 | $60,280 | $47,270 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.91 | $24.24 | $28.37 | $31.88 | $37.87 | $29.36 | 5,350 | 0.55 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $47,640 | $50,410 | $59,010 | $66,310 | $78,760 | $61,080 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $26.00 | $29.18 | $34.18 | $35.78 | $38.43 | $32.79 | 1,220 | 0.51 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $54,080 | $60,700 | $71,090 | $74,420 | $79,930 | $68,210 | ||||
| Corvallis, OR | Hourly | $23.65 | $28.85 | $32.68 | $37.83 | $37.83 | $32.76 | 80 | 2.14 | 2.57 |
| Annual | $49,190 | $60,010 | $67,960 | $78,680 | $78,680 | $68,140 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $25.35 | $29.26 | $32.35 | $35.93 | $37.71 | $32.87 | 470 | 0.42 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $52,720 | $60,870 | $67,280 | $74,720 | $78,430 | $68,370 | ||||
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $23.87 | $28.68 | $30.20 | $30.53 | $36.12 | $30.19 | 150 | 1.49 | 1.79 |
| Annual | $49,650 | $59,660 | $62,810 | $63,510 | $75,120 | $62,780 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $22.01 | $28.18 | $29.78 | $34.19 | $35.72 | $30.18 | 250 | 1.22 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $45,770 | $58,620 | $61,940 | $71,100 | $74,310 | $62,770 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.39 | $23.98 | $28.69 | $34.13 | $37.74 | $29.57 | 4,850 | 0.51 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $46,560 | $49,870 | $59,680 | $70,990 | $78,500 | $61,500 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $16.56 | $17.52 | $21.33 | $22.51 | $27.94 | $20.82 | 4,570 | 1.13 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $34,440 | $36,450 | $44,360 | $46,820 | $58,100 | $43,310 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $23.27 | $24.64 | $29.17 | $30.27 | $36.73 | $29.53 | 3,640 | 0.58 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $48,400 | $51,250 | $60,670 | $62,960 | $76,390 | $61,420 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $15.02 | $17.63 | $21.21 | $22.68 | $27.10 | $20.58 | 3,570 | 1.09 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $31,240 | $36,670 | $44,110 | $47,170 | $56,370 | $42,810 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $17.72 | $21.19 | $23.24 | $28.40 | $31.31 | $24.43 | 3,370 | 1.16 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $36,850 | $44,060 | $48,340 | $59,070 | $65,120 | $50,820 | ||||
Top industries employing veterinary technologists and technicians
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employ 89.9% of veterinary technologists and technicians nationally (116,120 jobs) at a median $47,170 a year ($22.68 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (3.1%) and Other Personal Services (1.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 541900 | 116,120 | 89.9% | $47,170 | $22.68 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 3,950 | 3.1% | $52,200 | $25.10 |
| Other Personal Services NAICS 812900 | 1,960 | 1.5% | $44,730 | $21.50 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations NAICS 813300 | 1,560 | 1.2% | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 1,160 | 0.9% | $60,690 | $29.18 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (129,140). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $36,850 for veterinary technologists and technicians in May 2021 and $47,380 in May 2025, with employment of 118,670 and 129,140.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $36,850 | $17.72 | 118,670 |
| May 2022 | $38,240 | $18.38 | 118,750 |
| May 2023 | $43,740 | $21.03 | 122,000 |
| May 2024 | $45,980 | $22.11 | 131,320 |
| May 2025 | $47,380 | $22.78 | 129,140 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $29.46 | $61,270 | $50,390 | $81,990 | 120 | 0.17 | 0.21 |
| 2 | California profile | $29.15 | $60,630 | $48,240 | $75,860 | 11,310 | 0.62 | 0.75 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $28.72 | $59,740 | $46,390 | $77,300 | 2,290 | 0.65 | 0.78 |
| 4 | New York profile | $28.37 | $59,010 | $47,640 | $78,760 | 5,350 | 0.55 | 0.66 |
| 5 | Minnesota profile | $27.54 | $57,270 | $42,640 | $65,120 | 3,560 | 1.21 | 1.45 |
| 6 | Oregon profile | $26.83 | $55,810 | $39,920 | $77,710 | 1,120 | 0.57 | 0.69 |
| 7 | Virginia profile | $25.04 | $52,090 | $35,590 | $75,770 | 2,790 | 0.68 | 0.82 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $24.49 | $50,950 | $41,480 | $75,090 | 1,690 | 1.00 | 1.20 |
| 9 | Maine profile | $24.43 | $50,810 | $47,340 | $57,690 | 910 | 1.42 | 1.71 |
| 10 | Nevada profile | $24.16 | $50,250 | $34,700 | $65,420 | 1,120 | 0.72 | 0.87 |
| 11 | Michigan profile | $23.90 | $49,710 | $37,410 | $63,020 | 2,550 | 0.58 | 0.70 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $23.87 | $49,650 | $37,820 | $60,380 | 3,720 | 1.30 | 1.56 |
| 13 | Massachusetts profile | $23.82 | $49,540 | $37,500 | $64,470 | 3,990 | 1.10 | 1.32 |
| 14 | Vermont profile | $23.80 | $49,490 | $48,050 | $58,430 | 390 | 1.27 | 1.53 |
| 15 | New Jersey profile | $23.58 | $49,050 | $37,870 | $75,310 | 2,910 | 0.68 | 0.82 |
| 16 | North Dakota profile | $23.46 | $48,790 | $35,960 | $56,980 | 340 | 0.80 | 0.97 |
| 17 | New Hampshire profile | $23.45 | $48,780 | $37,450 | $60,840 | 870 | 1.27 | 1.53 |
| 18 | Indiana profile | $23.43 | $48,720 | $37,820 | $59,490 | 1,820 | 0.57 | 0.68 |
| 19 | Hawaii profile | $23.34 | $48,550 | $35,990 | $62,660 | 270 | 0.44 | 0.52 |
| 20 | Delaware profile | $23.25 | $48,370 | $37,250 | $61,890 | 530 | 1.08 | 1.30 |
| 21 | Ohio profile | $23.07 | $47,990 | $34,760 | $61,360 | 4,790 | 0.86 | 1.04 |
| 22 | North Carolina profile | $22.89 | $47,620 | $35,890 | $59,420 | 2,580 | 0.52 | 0.63 |
| 23 | Maryland profile | $22.77 | $47,350 | $38,750 | $74,460 | 2,540 | 0.92 | 1.11 |
| 24 | Wisconsin profile | $22.61 | $47,020 | $37,900 | $59,110 | 2,590 | 0.88 | 1.06 |
| 25 | Alaska profile | $22.35 | $46,480 | $37,010 | $75,820 | 380 | 1.18 | 1.42 |
| 26 | Illinois profile | $22.33 | $46,440 | $38,580 | $60,520 | 5,040 | 0.83 | 0.99 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.32 | $46,430 | $36,480 | $60,280 | 6,620 | 1.09 | 1.31 |
| 28 | Florida profile | $22.30 | $46,380 | $36,600 | $57,870 | 11,380 | 1.15 | 1.38 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $22.26 | $46,300 | $37,870 | $58,350 | 3,970 | 1.23 | 1.48 |
| 30 | Kansas profile | $22.02 | $45,810 | $36,780 | $58,250 | 1,270 | 0.88 | 1.06 |
| 31 | Iowa profile | $21.90 | $45,560 | $36,290 | $63,860 | 1,220 | 0.78 | 0.94 |
| 32 | Rhode Island profile | $21.78 | $45,310 | $37,570 | $63,590 | 530 | 1.06 | 1.27 |
| 33 | South Dakota profile | $21.78 | $45,300 | $35,780 | $50,440 | 300 | 0.66 | 0.79 |
| 34 | New Mexico profile | $21.53 | $44,790 | $31,350 | $56,870 | 890 | 1.02 | 1.23 |
| 35 | Nebraska profile | $21.00 | $43,680 | $37,770 | $57,310 | 690 | 0.68 | 0.81 |
| 36 | Missouri profile | $20.92 | $43,520 | $31,940 | $49,260 | 2,040 | 0.69 | 0.84 |
| 37 | Georgia profile | $20.70 | $43,060 | $35,060 | $58,590 | 2,410 | 0.49 | 0.59 |
| 38 | Tennessee profile | $20.58 | $42,810 | $31,660 | $57,040 | 1,640 | 0.50 | 0.60 |
| 39 | Idaho profile | $20.25 | $42,120 | $31,900 | $48,660 | 790 | 0.93 | 1.12 |
| 40 | Montana profile | $19.79 | $41,170 | $35,420 | $57,660 | 480 | 0.93 | 1.12 |
| 41 | Utah profile | $19.50 | $40,560 | $29,640 | $55,330 | 1,550 | 0.89 | 1.08 |
| 42 | Kentucky profile | $19.03 | $39,590 | $28,490 | $50,530 | 1,670 | 0.84 | 1.01 |
| 43 | Texas profile | $18.95 | $39,410 | $30,320 | $54,610 | 16,730 | 1.19 | 1.43 |
| 44 | Oklahoma profile | $18.80 | $39,100 | $31,390 | $53,880 | 1,060 | 0.62 | 0.74 |
| 45 | South Carolina profile | $18.76 | $39,020 | $33,870 | $57,970 | 2,540 | 1.10 | 1.33 |
| 46 | Wyoming profile | $18.58 | $38,650 | $28,630 | $49,260 | 310 | 1.11 | 1.33 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $18.44 | $38,360 | $27,250 | $47,820 | 320 | 0.25 | 0.30 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $18.13 | $37,700 | $29,430 | $48,170 | 400 | 0.57 | 0.69 |
| 49 | Alabama profile | $17.59 | $36,590 | $28,590 | $49,060 | 1,880 | 0.89 | 1.07 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $17.49 | $36,380 | $29,120 | $46,710 | 650 | 0.56 | 0.67 |
| 51 | Louisiana profile | $17.08 | $35,530 | $28,490 | $47,690 | 2,220 | 1.15 | 1.38 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-2050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-2056 Veterinary Technologists and Technicians.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-2056, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-2056.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.